Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Gillespiana @ King's Head, Crouch End

Pete Long (ldr/alt); Steve Fishwick, George Hogg, Gabriel!?, Nathan Bray (tpts); Alastair White, ? (tmb); Sammy Maine, ? (alt); David Lewis, Richard Shepherd (ten); ? (bar); Simon Wallace (pno); Alan Graham (vbs); Jim Richardson (bs); ? (dms); Roberto Da Plu? (timb/bongoes); Satin Singh (conga).
Apologies for the names I missed.
This is the tribute band to end all tribute bands. Forget the original records this is how Dizzy's big band may have sounded on location in a small club.
It began with Leader Long blowing chorus after chorus on Anthropology - his only alto blast of the evening but what a blast with just the rhythm section. The two trombones then had an extended joust before the full power of the band was unleashed on Ow! Steve Fishwick needless to say was at his boppiest.
I was breathless and this was just the opener!
In the confines of the compact basement it was positively quadrophonic!
Algo Bueno equally powerful with trumpet player George Hogg outstanding as indeed he was all evening - a guy to watch out for he's a comer.
Emanon featured the rhythm section before tenorist Shepherd and a third trumpet talent the improbably, albeit appropriately, named Gabriel took it to the cleaners.
Dave Lewis blew a long soul-like tenor solo before the band took off on Good Bait with George Hogg once more rubber stamping his credentials.
The set finished with One Bass Hit and some fine bass hitting by one Jim Richardson.
By now I was on Cloud 9 and still rising - this is an amazing band - a must for any Jazz Festival.
Manteca kicked off part two - a truly original take on the original in the form of a suite with emphasis on the rhythm section and another great solo by Hogg.
Sammy Main played an emotionally packed I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good 'cept it was bloody good!
Night in Tunisia then Our Delight to round off what had indeed been a delight!
Lance.

1 comment :

ColinM said...

Hello Lance,

I was pleased to meet you at the gig, which was indeed brilliant. Your write-up of it captures it well. Thanks.

Colin

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